Device for removing paper closures from milk-bottles



.R. C. GROH. DEVICE FOR REMOVING PAPER CLOSURES FROM MILK BOTTLES.

APPLICATION FILED OCT- 16. I920.

Patented Aug. 2 1921.

Fi i E UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT C. GROH, OF ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA, ASSIGNOR TO LOUIS F. DOW COMPANY, OF ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA, A CORPORATION.

DEVICE FOR REMOVING FAPEB GLOSURES FROM MILK-BOTTLES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 2, 1921.

Application filed October 16, 1920. Serial No. 417,285.

1 0 ai /Z whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Paul, in the county of Ramsey and State of Minn sota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Devices for Removing Paper Closures from Milk- Bottles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to devices used for removing the cardboard closure ordinarily used for sealing the mouth of an ordinary milk bottle. This closure, generally consists of a disk of pliable material such as paper board, which is forced from above into an annular recess blown into the bottle, and is frictionally held positioned therein.

An object of the invention is to provide a simple device for easily removing the bottle closure and also serve as a paring knife and the like, and which may be cheaply manufactured from sheet steel.

To this end the invention consists in the novel features of construction and combination hereinafter described and claimed:

Figure 1 is a side view of a paring knife embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a view of the back of the knife.

Fig. 3 is a side view of a modified form of my invention.

Fig. 4 is an end View of same.

Fig. 5 is a top view of the piercing tip characterizing the modified form, and

Fig. 6 is a sectional view of the top of a milk bottle showing the modified form of the invention in use.

A represents the top of a milk bottle having a recess around the mouth thereof, B the circular vertical wall of the recess and C the bottom thereof. D designates the removable closure or disk, made of soft fibrous material such as paper, the disk being formed to frictionally fit into the recess and seat on the bottom C thereof. The ordinary closure disk is easily penetrated by a piercing point such as the V shaped tip of a knife.

My invention consists of a flat blade E, the tip thereof V shaped, the vertex of the V constituting the piercing point 1, to be thrust through the closure disk of the closed bottle.

Preferably only one leg 2 of the V forming a part of the edge of the blade is formed ROBERT C. GROH,

with a cutting edge, said cutting edge continuing, preferably in a straight line, down one edge 2 of the blade, whereby the blade, as a whole may be used as a paring knife. As shown, a suitable handle F is provided, though the blade may be formed with an integral handle if desired.

The opposite leg of the V terminates abruptly as a result of the blade being cut away at right angles to the leg to form a shoulder or seat 3, in the back of the blade, near the piercing point 1 thereof. By thus cutting away the blade, a narrow neck 4 is formed between the base of the seat and the cutting edge 2. The back of the blade from the base of the tooth slants outwardly and merges into the back edge 5 thereof, which latter is preferably parallel with the cutting edge 2. As shown, the blade is formed with a suitable shank 6 secured in the handle F in the usual way.

In use, the tip of the knife is plunged through closure disk to bring the shoulder 3 to a position on the level with the under side of the disk as shown in Fig. 6 and in dotted lines in Fig. 1.

The blade is now shoved laterally so that the closure disks will rest against the seat 3. By slightly tilting the blade in cutting direction, the edge 2' will brace against the disk as at 7 to pry upwardly against the latter owing to the gradual widening of the blade in the direction of the handle. By

imparting a longitudinal upward pull to the I blade in addition to the prylng movement the closure disk is easily dislodged.

In the modified form, which is to be used as a milk bottle opener alone, both edges of the B shaped tip are shown as cutting edges. The curved edge 8 corresponds to the curved upper portion of the knife blade. As an equivalent of the handle F, I employ a disk 9 somewhat similar in shape to the closure disks of milk bottles. The disk 9 is centrally secured to the blade by means of an ordinary eyelet 10, so that it may rotate thereon. By making the handle in this form the space offered by the sides of the disk may be utilized for advertising matter and the like.

I claim:

1. A device for the purpose set forth, comprising a thin blade formed with a tip shaped like an inverted V, constituting a piercing point adapted to be forced through the closure disk a neck in the blade below the V shaped tip narrower than the width between the legs of the V, and a gradually widening portion extending from said neck in a direction away from said tip, as and for the purpose set forth. l

2. A device for the purpose set forth, comprising a thin blade formed with a tip shaped like an inverted V, constituting a 10 piercing point adapted to be forced through the closure disk, a neck in the blade below the V shaped tip narrower than the width between the legs of the V, and a gradually widening portion extending from said neck in a direction away from said tip, said neck being formed by cutting the blade so as to form a seat at right angles to one of the legs of the V.

In testimony whereof I a'fiiX my signature.

ROBERT c. GROH. 

